Microstructural Properties of Combustion-Synthesized and Dynamically Consolidated Titanium Boride and Titanium Carbide

Full-density TiB₂ and TiC have been fabricated by combustion synthesis reactions followed by dynamic compaction of the still hot, porous ceramic body. The relationship between the morphologies and purities of the precursor powders used and the ceramic product structures is presented. Intergrain bonding and residual porosity of the dynamically consolidated products are found to depend strongly on the impurity levels of the precursor powders. Analysis of the TiC indicates that density and microhardness increase as a function of the C/Ti ratio, with maximum values at the ratio of 1.0.